Gardner Street in Sterling Heights to get asphalt

At least 18 residents who live on Gardner Street in Sterling Heights want their street paved and they will get their wish with some financial assistance from the city.

The City Council recently voted to take the necessary steps to make improvements on Gardner, a dead end street with ingress and egress from the east side of Ryan road between 17 and 18 Mile roads.

Council struggled with the proposal from the 18 residents because they realize it places a financial difficulty on all residents. Sterling Heights Engineer Brent Bashaw said 11 residents said they want the road left in its gravel state simply because economic times aren’t the best and they cannot afford the cost to have the board blacktopped.

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Cost to the residents will average $9,000. Other costs are from $12,044 to $3,416.

The total cost to the city will be $315,000 with residents paying $261,000.

The city administration recommended setting a special assessment for 15 years. Council relented and has agreed to give the residents 25 years to make their payments taking into consideration some people have lost their jobs and other are in new jobs and have taken a pay cut.

Councilwoman Barbara Ziarko, supported by Mayor Richard Notte, made the motion to pave the road.

“I’m in favor of the paving project because a majority of the residents are in favor and I have to respect that,” Notte said.

“If we won’t do it tonight, we’ll be back in five years (discussing the paving again),” Ziarko said.

Noreen Nichols, who lives in the 4400 block of Gardner, said she has lived on the street for 19 years and her household income hasn’t increased at all. She said she has a lot better thing to do with her money than pave the road in front of her house.

Nichols said she is paying an increase in payroll taxes, additional health costs, takes unpaid days off from work and feels the paying project cost is expensive.

“I have a lot better things to do with my money,” she said. “It’s a pretty steep price to pay for something that doesn’t have to be done.”

Councilman Joseph Romano said he is 100 percent for the paving and 100 percent against it sounding like the baseball legend Yogi Berra who was known for his “off the wall” comments.

“I know that sounds stupid,” Romano said.

Resident Ron Tipinski of adjoining Baker Drive, said he has lived on the street for 36 years when there were only 11 homes on Gardner. He said it now has increased to 29 homes and he is tired of inhaling dust all summer long.

“We can’t keep our windows open,” he said.

Marie Anderson of the 4500 block of Gardner, has lived on the street for 27 years and doesn’t want her road paved.

Councilwoman Marie Schmidt made the successful motions to give the residents 25 instead of 15 years to pay which would make monthly payments less expensive.

City Manager Mark Vanderpool said council has agreed to allow residents to apply for a hardship exemption. He said the city currently is in the process of deciding that they means.